Swiss / ZRH: Travel experience in during COVID [mask mandate etc]
Aug 18, 2020, 3:11 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I love Movenpick icecream! When I was there on Monday i just had tomato juice and chocolate until I reached my sugar fix limit. At least the scrambled eggs are nice, the sandwiches were not as good as when I was there end of July.
Sep 2, 2020, 2:23 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
I'm on the first LX38 flight since the route was suspended. Flying in F
1) Ground operations for HON - Not great. F/HON Lounge isn't open, and section in A SEN lounge isn't anything to write home about. Then again, demand for this class of service is so low I question whether it's economical to offer these added things. F/HON check-in wasn't open.
2) Boarding was from D gates (on 77W) instead of the usual E. I actually preferred this rather than going all the way to E as, in my mind, the only benefit of E for F/HON pax is the lounge.
3) Despite boarding taking place from the D gates, it was through a bus to the plane. Can't remember the last time I boarded a 77W via stairs. Might have been the first time I've ever done that.
4) They were offering decent pricing to upgrade at the podium. I asked about J to F and they said 1400 CHF.
5) In-flight experience is usual Swiss, but with facemasks. The only slight modification to the food service in F was that there's no longer a trolley for distributing appetizers or salmon or dessert. But that's fine in my book.
6) Flight is pretty empty. F has only 3 pax. Business is nearly empty. And economy is nearly empty. I'm sure numbers to the US will pick up if borders open up again, but until then I'm not sure it's economical to fly this even 3x a week. Loads for my return flight are pretty grim. F has 3 seats free, so that's good. But J and Y are basically empty.
Not sure where my loyalties sit personally. I care a lot about in flight product, so for me that means flying AF P, LX F, LH F, SQ F (if that opportunity arises again), etc. But the tie-breaker for me has been excellent ground support through Europe and on routes where F isn't available. Without that ground support, I might just go for the cheapest F fare with the best product. I probably have one more SF trip and another NY trip this year, so we'll see. I haven't booked either yet.
1) Ground operations for HON - Not great. F/HON Lounge isn't open, and section in A SEN lounge isn't anything to write home about. Then again, demand for this class of service is so low I question whether it's economical to offer these added things. F/HON check-in wasn't open.
2) Boarding was from D gates (on 77W) instead of the usual E. I actually preferred this rather than going all the way to E as, in my mind, the only benefit of E for F/HON pax is the lounge.
3) Despite boarding taking place from the D gates, it was through a bus to the plane. Can't remember the last time I boarded a 77W via stairs. Might have been the first time I've ever done that.
4) They were offering decent pricing to upgrade at the podium. I asked about J to F and they said 1400 CHF.
5) In-flight experience is usual Swiss, but with facemasks. The only slight modification to the food service in F was that there's no longer a trolley for distributing appetizers or salmon or dessert. But that's fine in my book.
6) Flight is pretty empty. F has only 3 pax. Business is nearly empty. And economy is nearly empty. I'm sure numbers to the US will pick up if borders open up again, but until then I'm not sure it's economical to fly this even 3x a week. Loads for my return flight are pretty grim. F has 3 seats free, so that's good. But J and Y are basically empty.
Not sure where my loyalties sit personally. I care a lot about in flight product, so for me that means flying AF P, LX F, LH F, SQ F (if that opportunity arises again), etc. But the tie-breaker for me has been excellent ground support through Europe and on routes where F isn't available. Without that ground support, I might just go for the cheapest F fare with the best product. I probably have one more SF trip and another NY trip this year, so we'll see. I haven't booked either yet.
Sep 2, 2020, 2:34 pm
#49
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
The cargo in the hold is paying for the flight. Airfreight is currently at a premium due to the reduced pax aircraft traffic. They are currently offering 40-50 tons of freight on each flight for around 3-5$/kg.
https://www.swissworldcargo.com/en/n...s/fleet/boeing
https://www.swissworldcargo.com/en/n...s/fleet/boeing
Sep 2, 2020, 4:03 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London | Sydney
Programs: LH HON, QF CL, SQ TPPS, AF Plat, VS Gold, VA Plat, EK Gold, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,528
If you go over to the AF forum, you’ll see AF P is in a significantly more grim position than LX F. It is basically Business service in a First Class Seat, with no price reduction from pre-Covid P. No lounge or ground support. Business catering.
Something tells me you should stick with LX
Something tells me you should stick with LX
Sep 3, 2020, 6:47 am
#52
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
If you go over to the AF forum, you’ll see AF P is in a significantly more grim position than LX F. It is basically Business service in a First Class Seat, with no price reduction from pre-Covid P. No lounge or ground support. Business catering.
Something tells me you should stick with LX
Something tells me you should stick with LX
Sep 9, 2020, 11:38 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,022
Hopefully flying to Turkey and back in a few weeks and will be transiting ZRH on the way back to SFO.
Will I still be subject to the extra screening process if I'm just using ZRH as a transit point?
Anyone have recent experience flying Swiss to the US when connecting from a country not on the "ban list"
Will I still be subject to the extra screening process if I'm just using ZRH as a transit point?
Anyone have recent experience flying Swiss to the US when connecting from a country not on the "ban list"
Sep 9, 2020, 1:38 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Sep 9, 2020, 2:06 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,022
Sep 10, 2020, 1:06 am
#60
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
OMAAT just posted his experience of arriving on LX at MIA a few weeks ago. The US authorities don't seem to make much fuss.